“Over the past three years, the Republican Supermajority in Montgomery has balanced the state budgets on the backs of Alabama’s families,” Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, said in a statement. Ford said the Republican initiatives have eliminated thousands of state jobs and reduced take-home pay for teachers and state employees.

The number of state employees has dropped from about 39,000 in 2010 to about 35,000, according to the governor's office.

Legislators did not reduce pay, but did require teachers and state employees to contribute more toward their retirement benefits, which reduced take-home pay.

The Legislature approved a 2 percent cost of living raise for teachers this year.

Ford also noted that the state is borrowing $437 million over three years from the Alabama Trust Fund to support the state General Fund. Voters approved the transfer in September 2012.